Eugene de Beauharnais was in a very difficult positon. He really had a tremendous passion for military service. Through dumb luck he became the stepson of a great military genius and he was highly in awe of Napoleon. Despite this, Eugene had to put up with Napoleon cheating on his mother. In his memoirs, Eugene discusses how he had to follow Napoleon around as aide de camp as Napoleon rode around in a calèche with his mistress while in Egypt. Eugene tried switching to serve under another General but Napoleon adjusted his behavior and became a lot less flagrant.
Napoleon also set Hortense up with a terrible husband. Eugene had both his mother and his sister crying in his ear while he had his own problems.
Here Hortense writes to Eugene.
Dear Eugène,
Saint-Amand, 9 Thermidor, Year XIII, July 28, 1805.
Yes, my dear Eugene, I want to give you courage. Do not be afraid to grieve me by talking about your troubles [Napoleon felt Eugene should’ve been more punitive with an insurrectionist in the Italian government]. I feel that you need to unload your sorrow and I would be very sorry if your fear of causing me grief would prevent you from opening your heart to me.
When I speak to you about myself, it is a consolation to think that you share my sorrows as if you were my very self.
Corvisart [Napoleon’s doctor] is here. He told me that the Empress is leaving for Plombieres in a few day’s and that Eglé [Madame Ney] is not going with her. Eglé is going to come to see me by way of Montreuil
Do not think that the absentees are always all that distant. The absence of the people we are interested in, in their sadness, give us the need to think about them more often.
You know that Louis commands the reserve army. General Nansouty, who commands a division of carabineers and cuirassiers under his command, arrived at Valenciennes, it appears. The headquarters will be in the vicinity. Everyone is talking a lot about war, which would be very sad. I'm talking to you about it because I know it's your touchy spot, and I already see you making beautiful castles in Spain which, perhaps, will cheer you up for a moment.
[This refers to how Eugene is being left to run Italy and will not be fighting in the war.]
Madame de Boubers, whom I had left at St. Leu with my little boy, and who is with him at St. Cloud, is right now very happy. The Emperor approves the marriage of this lady with Lauriston's brother and he even did something for them. She often writes to me and tells me that Mom is always very sad to be separated from us two and, without my little boy who distracts her, she feels really isolated amongst so many people.
Farewell, my dear Eugene, I embrace you very dearly.
HORTENSE